Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-12-09

n y
white vehicle with its Dodding branch
of green, which had rolled so sudden
ly into the busy, happy life at the
farmhouse. had rolled away again
For a minute the Kiiburns stood
look ng after it, then the farmer re.
turned to his chores in the barn. and
the children with their mother walked
soberly back to the house.
But though the popping of corn and
the seeding OF raisns which had been
interrupted by this episode were soon
briskly renewed in the kitchen, the
preparations for Christmas had some
how lost their interest, There was
less lively talk, and seemingly much
less fun to be extracted from teasing
each other with vague hints of de-
iightful secrets to be revealed on the
morrow. Even the supper, usually
merry meal 10 the Kilburn household
was eaten in comparative silence, and
the genial farmer, looking round upon
the abstracted faces of his family,
queried, Are you saving your talk
for to morrow !? What ails you all ~
"Well," said Reba, '.for my part,
I can't keep from thinking how pretty
that Christmas-tree was, and how
nice it would have been to have had
it standing in the corner of our par
lor covered with presents. Not that
| wanted to take it away from the
baby" she added II wouldn't have
kept it for anything after that But
when you have got your mind set on
q tree, you know, it's hard to come
down az ain to stockings"
This statement seemed to voice the
general feeling, but there was more
serious element in tie depression
which had fallen upon Mrs Kilburn.
1T isn't the tree that Pm thinking
about" she remarked. Its the
folks that went along with it. l don't
know where my wits were that
didn't ask 'em to stay to supper |
don't suppose they've had good
Christian meal since they started
our,
"Why, mother" said farmer Kill
burn passing up his plate tor Sec
ond help of the rabbit pie, "they
wouldn't have come in if you'd asked
'em You couldn't "a hired 'em to
set down with u.s."
"Well, might have asked 'em,"
said his wife. And any how | might
have given 'em something TO take
along with 'em There's pies in the
cellar and any quantity of cakes. l
declare sha'n't enjoy my Christmas
dinner for thinking of 'em with moth
ing to eat but stale victuals and may
be not enough of them" :"
81 say, Reba," cried Tom, who
throughout the meal had been look
ing unusually thoughtful, Pm almost
sure they are camping down by the
creek TO night. If you say so. mother
I'll go down and take a basket of
thing to 'em now"
"And too," cried Reba, "why
couldn't we send down a few things
to bang on that Christmas tree for
the baby? Her mother could put
them on while she's asleep, and oh !!
wouldn't she be delighted when she
woke up?"
This double proposal seemed TO act
electrically upon the circle at the
farmhouse table. ALI the tongues
un!oosed at once, and the younger
children, jumping from their places,
clapped their hands and cried, "Say
yes, Ma Say yes" at the tops of
their voices.
Mrs. kilburn's own face was BEAM
ing She thought it necessary how
ever to interpose q caution: MAY be
they're not camping by the creek.
You mustn't be too sure of that"
But it's pretty likely" said farmer
KilburD, There isn't another wa
tering place near"
"I'll get on to Yep and find out
where they are," said Tom. lie
pushed his chair back from the table
as he spoke, and few minutes later
was scurrying across the plain on the
back of his colt.
During his absence expectation
stood ali tiptoe at the farmhouse. 'If
they're gone out OF reach it'll be q
great deal harder to bear than not
having the Christmas tree, "said Reba
In a remarkably short time Tom
reappeared, aud bis exuItant manner
was discernable even in the dislan
"rhey're there !" he shouted, hlnging
himself off the back of his pony be-
fore she had fairly come toa halt.
"rhey're there, just behind the rocks
at the bend OF the creek, you know
They've staked their mules and stop
ped for the night. knew | could
find 'em."
And now an excitement unprece-
dented even on Christmas Eve took
possession OF the Kilburn family.
Mrs. Ki!burn went into the pantry
aud drew upon ber Christmas sup
plies in manner which made ample
amends for aLy former neglect. The
largest market basket was brought in
to requisItion. There was u pile of
mince pies set in carefully one upon
another, there was generous round
Of cold boiled ham, u fragrant slice of
head-cheese, loaf OF snowy home
made bread, bottle OF pickles,
u jar Of rich, delicious
cranberry sauce, aud in all the spaces
there were cakes and more cakes,
seed cookies, ginger-snaps and crisp,
brown crullers. IL was no wonder
the basket was filled TO its utmost Gu
pacity, for Mrs Kiburn was acting
not only upon her own generous i'm
pulses but upon the advice Of her
oldest SOD, who stood by. Offering
suggestions as To the quantity of this
anu that delicacy which d lad Of age
could eat when he was fairly hungry.
When at length there was room for
nothing more Mrs Klburn tied Il
white cloth over all and pushed the
basket from her with Il sign OF relief
"It's good thing we cun send IL to
'em, Tom" she said impressively
at isu't always when you let u
chaEce Of doing good turn go by
that you can catch up with IL alter
wards
Meanwhile Reba and the younger
children were filing another basket
with gifts for the baby, gifts which
| sh0nld make her little green tree still